Ottawa has firmly dismissed circulating claims that Canada will offer a special visa through the 2026 FIFA World Cup that would allow foreign visitors to work in the country or use attendance at matches as a shortcut to settle there, saying no such provision exists and warning people against misinformation and scams linked to the tournament. The clarification by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) comes amid a surge of misleading videos and social media posts targeting prospective travellers, especially from India and other countries, that have falsely suggested that attending World Cup games could lead to work or immigration opportunities beyond normal visitor status.
In a public statement, IRCC said that although Canada will co-host 13 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver from June 11 to June 19, there is no specific “FIFA visa” that grants the holder the right to work in Canada or to settle permanently. It emphasised that visitors entering the country for the tournament must abide by the terms of their admission, which typically means holding either a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA)appropriate to their nationality, and leaving the country once their authorised stay ends.
The government’s warning comes after a wave of online content claiming that a special visa pathway exists, with some messages falsely stating that individuals travelling to Canada for the World Cup could secure employment or even stay in the country after the event. IRCC cautioned that these representations are incorrect and noted that some unscrupulous agents and third parties have attempted to exploit interest in the World Cup to market fraudulent immigration-related services. Ottawa urged travellers to apply for their visas or eTAs directly through official Canadian government channels rather than through intermediaries and to be wary of guarantees or promises of visa approval.
Canada’s official guidance on entering the country for the World Cup stresses that there is no bespoke visa tied to the football tournament. Travellers must meet standard visa requirements based on their citizenship, show they have sufficient funds, and satisfy immigration officials that they intend to abide by the conditions of their stay and depart when required. Match tickets themselves do not guarantee entry or confer any special status; they simply form part of a visitor’s purpose for travel.
While no special employment visa exists for general visitors to World Cup events, Canadian authorities have put in place temporary public policies to ease certain work permit requirements for individuals formally invited by FIFA. These measures, designed to support operational needs around the tournament, allow specific FIFA-accredited personnel such as players, referees, broadcast crews, technical staff and other formally designated workers to enter and work in the country within a set timeframe without undergoing the standard work-permit process. This exemption is limited to those on official invitation lists and does not extend to ordinary visitors or tourists.
Despite these tailored provisions for official personnel, Canada’s broader immigration stance remains firm: foreign visitors attending the World Cup must meet the usual entry requirements and should not expect attendance at the event to facilitate longer-term settlement or unauthorized work. Immigration officials have reinforced that false promises of easy access or residency can lead to refusals or even bans, and they encourage travellers to rely on legitimate government information when planning their trips.
